Recommended Plants

Approach

As a garden designer based in Cyprus, I focus on creating outdoor spaces that celebrate the Mediterranean lifestyle. The goal is to craft gardens that blend beauty, function, and sustainability, while respecting the unique weather and landscapes of the region.

I work closely with clients to understand their vision and needs, ensuring the design reflects their personal style while seamlessly integrating with the architecture and surroundings. Each garden is designed to be low-maintenance, water-efficient, and eco-friendly, with plants carefully selected for their ability to thrive in Cyprus’ climate.

Ultimately, my mission is to create gardens that not only enhance the property’s aesthetic but also provide a lasting, sustainable environment for the owners to enjoy year-round.

Aloe barbadensis miller (Aloe Vera)

Aloe is both practical and beautiful, a winning combination. The gel contained in its leaves is a natural remedy for soothing sunburn, skin irritations and minor wounds. We also love aloe for its striking structural shape and springtime orange-yellow spires.

Height: 40-60 cm | Spread: 30-60 cm
Native to: Arabian Peninsula, Northern Africa and Mediterranean
Flowers: February to April
Sun: Full sun to part shade

Architectural interest
Drought tolerant
Low maintenance
Medicinal uses
Suitable for pots and planters
Sun and heat loving
Tropical feel

Bougainvillea spp. (Bougainville)

Besides olive and lavender, there’s probably no other plant that typifies the Mediterranean like bougainvillea. Its bright and colourful bracts bloom year-round in shades of pink, purple, red, orange, white and yellow. It’s a low-effort, high impact plant.

Height: 1-12 m | Spread: 1-12 m
Native to: Brazil, Peru and Argentina
Flowers: Year-round
Sun: Full sun

Beautiful blooms
Classically Mediterranean
Climber
Coastal resilience
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Fast grower
Long blooming season
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Privacy screen
Suitable for pots and planters
Sun and heat loving
Tropical feel

Bulbine frutescens (Bulbinella)

Bulbinella stands out in our gravel gardens with its bright orange and yellow flowers. We love it because it’s easy to care for and requires little water, making it ideal for our Mediterranean environment.

Height: 30-50 cm | Spread: 30-60 cm
Native to: South Africa
Flowers: March to October
Sun: Full sun to part shade

Beautiful blooms
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Ground cover
Long blooming season
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Suitable for pots and planters
Sun and heat loving

Citrus spp. (Citrus Tree)

With its glossy evergreen leaves, fragrant flowers and bright juicy fruits, it offers beauty and a delightful sensory experience throughout the year.

Height: 3-6 m | Spread: 2-5 m
Native to: Asia, primarily India, Myanmar and China
Flowers: Year-round
Sun: Full sun

Classically Mediterranean
Compact size
Drought tolerant
Edible harvest
Evergreen
Fragrant
Pest and disease resistant
Pollinator friendly
Shade provider
Suitable for pots and planters
Year-round interest

Cupressus sempervirens (Cypress Tree)

Cupressus adds a classic and elegant element to any garden. We like to plant it in lines along a drive or path, dot them along mountainside terraces or plant them as a grouping in cloud gardens.

Height: 5-15 m | Spread: 1-2m
Native to: Eastern Mediterranean
Flowers: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun

Architectural appeal
Classically Mediterranean
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Long lifespan
Low maintenance
Pest and disease resistant
Privacy screen
Sun and heat loving
Windbreak

Delosperma cooperi (Ice Plant)

It requires minimal watering besides the occasional rainfall and produces a carpet of abundant, daisy-like flowers that provide long-lasting colour.

Height: 10-15 cm | Spread: 30-60 cm
Native to: South Africa
Flowers: Year-round
Sun: Full sun

Beautiful blooms
Cold hardy
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Erosion control
Evergreen
Fast growing
Ground cover
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Sun and heat loving

Echium candicans (Pride of Madeira)

Echium is one of our favourite perennials because of its large, coneshaped clusters of vivid purple flowers. Its evergreen leaves add structure, it requires little water and is highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Height: 1-3 m | Spread: 1-2 m
Native to: Madeira
Flowers: February to April
Sun: Full sun

Architectural interest
Beautiful blooms
Coastal resilience
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Fast grower
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Sun and heat loving

Herbs

Allium schoenoprasum (Chive), Aloysia citrodora (Lemon Verbena), Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon), Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass), Cynara cardunculus (Globe Artichoke), Laurus nobilis (Bay), Mentha saveolens (Mint),Origanum vulgaris (Oregano), Salvia officinali (Sage), Salvia rosmarinus ‘Prostratus’ (Rosemary), Thymus vulgaris (Thyme)

Most clients ask us to include a herb garden in our designs. We plant rosemary, chives, sage, mints, oregano, thyme and more, staying away from soft herbs like cilantro and parsley that quickly bolt under Mallorca’s intense summer sun.

Beautiful blooms
Classically Mediterranean
Culinary uses
Edible harvests
Evergreen

Fast grower
Fast grower
Fragrant
Ground cover
Pollinator friendly
Suitable for pots and planters

Lavandula dentata (Lavender)

Lavender fields are a sensory delight with the colour and beauty of its spire-like flowers, the sound of buzzing bees and the heavenly scent. It has specific soil and water requirements, so we like to plant it on its own – in fields to create an aromatic meadow or in rows, like you see in Provence.

Height: 60-100 cm | Spread: 60-100 cm
Native to: Mediterranean and North and East Africa
Flowers: October to May
Sun: Full sun

Beautiful blooms
Classically Mediterranean
Colourful
Culinary uses
Cut flowers
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Fragrant
Medicinal uses
Pest repellent
Pollinator friendly

Nerium oleander (Oleander)

Nerium is an ornamental shrub that produces a profusion of flowers in shades of pink, red, white and yellow during the summer. It is extremely hardy, making it ideal for our Mediterranean landscapes.
N.B. Highly toxic to humans and animals.

Height: 2-5 m | Spread: 1-3 m
Native to: Mediterranean
Flowers: May to October
Sun: Full sun

Beautiful blooms
Classically Mediterranean
Coastal resilience
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Fast grower
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Privacy screen
Windbreak

Oenothera lindheimeri (Gaura)

Oenothera is one of our favourite perennials. Our own garden is filled with its light and airy flowers that resemble butterflies fluttering above the foliage. We use gaura not just for its long-lasting blooms, but because it’s water efficient and low maintenance, making it a near perfect Mediterranean flower.

Height: 50-150 cm | Spread: 40-100 cm
Native to: Texas and Louisiana, U.S.A.
Flowers: May to September
Sun: Full sun

Beautiful blooms
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Long blooming season
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Sun and heat loving

Olea europaea (Olive)

Olive trees are deeply rooted in Mediterranean history – symbolizing peace and prosperity – and culture, for producing a cuisine staple. We love to use olives in our gardens as a focal point, highlighting their ancient, gnarled trunks and silvery foliage. They are living works of art.

Height: 3-10 m | Spread: 3-10 m
Native to: Mediterranean Basin
Flowers: May to June
Sun: Full sun

Architectural interest
Classically Mediterranean
Drought tolerant
Edible harvest
Evergreen
Long lifespan
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Shade provider
Suitable for pots and planters
Sun and heat loving
Topiary

Pennisetum alopecuroides (Chinese Fountain Grass)

We love using pennisetum in our meadows for its striking beauty and the graceful movement and texture it adds to the garden. Bottlebrush-like flowers only add to the appeal.

Height: 60-120 cm | Spread: 60-100 cm
Native to: East Asia
Flowers: August to October
Sun: Full sun

Attracts wildlife
Drought tolerant
Fast grower
Ground cover
Low maintenance
Pest and disease resistant

Pistacia lentiscus (Mastic)

Pistacia is a dense and hardy evergreen shrub local to the Mediterranean. You’ll often see it growing wild. We love to use it as a topiary in our cloud gardens where its dark green leaves and red berries contrast beautifully with germander and rosemary.

Height: 1-5 m | Spread: 1-4 m
Native to: Mediterranean
Flowers: March to May
Sun: Full sun to part shade

Attracts wildlife
Coastal resilience
Compact size
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Low maintenance
Pest and disease resistant
Sun and heat loving
Topiary

Punica granatum (Pomegranate)

We like to include pomegranate trees in our gardens because of its manageable size and the striking contrast between its bright orange-red flowers and lush green foliage. Not to mention pomegranate’s beautiful and delicious fruits that are packed full of antioxidants and health benefits.

Height: 2-5 m | Spread: 2-5 m
Native to: Iran and the Himalayas in Northern India
Flowers: May to September
Sun: Full sun

Colourful
Compact size
Drought tolerant
Edible harvest
Long lifespan
Low maintenance
Pest and disease resistant
Pollinator friendly
Sun and heat loving

Salvia rosmarinus ‘Prostratus’ (Rosemary)

Our own garden is filled with topiary rosemary. It’s aromatic, water-wise and easy to grow. We like to plant it where it can cascade over walls, in gravel gardens and as ground cover where it can creep. You can also use its leaves for cooking delicious Mediterranean food.

Height: 30-60 cm | Spread: 1-2 m
Native to: Mediterranean
Flowers: March to May
Sun: Full sun

Culinary uses
Drought tolerant
Easy to grow
Evergreen
Fast grower
Fragrant
Ground cover
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Suitable for pots and planters
Topiary

Salvia yangii (Russian Sage)

One of our favourite perennials. It’s often confused with lavender because of its vibrant violet-blue flowers and silvery foliage. We think it pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses in an aromatic meadow, where it sways in the breeze and releases its wonderful sage scent.

Height: 90-120 cm | Spread: 60-90 cm
Native to: Central Asia
Flowers: May to November
Sun: Full sun

Beautiful blooms
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Fast grower
Fragrant
Long blooming season
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly

Santolina chamaecyparissus (Santolina)

We love santolina for its silvery sage foliage and carpet of button-like yellow flowers. While we plant it for its ornamental value, santolina historically has been used as a panacea in the Mediterranean.

Height: 30-60 cm | Spread: 60-90 cm
Native to: Mediterranean
Flowers: June to August
Sun: Full sun

Beautiful blooms
Colourful
Compact size
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Fragrant
Low maintenance
Medicinal value
Pollinator friendly

Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass)

We love to use stipa because of its fine, needle-like foliage and its soft, feathery inflorescences that appear in summer. It’s an excellent choice for adding texture and movement to a garden and pairs beautifully with Salvia yangii in meadows.

Height: 60-100 cm | Spread: 30-60 cm
Native to: New Mexico and Texas, U.S.A. and adjacent Mexico
Flowers: May to June
Sun: Full sun

Attracts wildlife
Drought tolerant
Fast grower
Ground cover
Low maintenance

Succulents & Cacti (Various)

Besides being living pieces of art with their beautiful shapes and structural silhouettes, they are ideally suited for our Mediterranean climate. Some favourites that we like to include in our gardens are crassulae, aeoniums, euphorbias, echinocactus, portulacarias and sedums.

Architectural appeal
Colourful
Drought tolerant
Low maintenance

Suitable for pots and planters
Sun and heat loving
Year-round interest

Teucrium fruticans (Germander)

Our cloud gardens are full of teucrium. The shrub is perfectly suited for topiary and its pale silvery leaves and small blue flower steal the show, contrasting beautifully with darker green plants.

Height: 1-2 m | Spread: 1-2 m
Native to: Mediterranean
Flowers: January to April
Sun: Full sun

Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Fast grower
Low maintenance
Pest and disease resistant
Suitable for pots and planters
Topiary

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)

We believe gardens should be a sensory affair, and jasmine brings gardens alive with its intoxicating perfume. We like to plant it near fountains, where the relaxing sound of water combines with jasmine’s fragrance for the ultimate in relaxation.

Height: 2-4 m | Spread: 1-3 m
Native to: Middle East to Asia
Flowers: June to September
Sun: Full sun to part shade

Beautiful blooms
Classically Mediterranean
Climber
Drought tolerant
Evergreen
Fragrant
Low maintenance
Privacy screen
Shade provider

Lippia nodiflora (Carpet Weed)

Lippia nodiflora, also known as carpet weed or frog fruit, is a versatile groundcover plant that thrives in Mediterranean gardens. Its dense, spreading growth and tiny, cheerful flowers make it an excellent choice for covering large areas or filling gaps between stepping stones. Highly resilient and low-maintenance, it’s perfect for sunny, drought-prone landscapes.

Lippia meadow nodiflora var. canescens is the most common alternative to English lawn. This perennial carpet requires no maintenance and very little irrigation. It also resists trampling and salinity exceptionally well, making it an ideal choice for coastal gardens. Additionally, it requires zero pesticides—which are known to be carcinogenic—enhancing its appeal as a safe and environmentally friendly option.

Height: 5-15 cm | Spread: 30-120 cm
Native to: Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
Flowers: Spring to autumn
Sun: Full sun to partial shade

Groundcover
Coastal resilience
Drought tolerant
Fast grower
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Soil stabilizer
Suitable for erosion control
Sun and heat loving
Tolerates foot traffic

Ceratonia siliqua (Carob Tree)

The carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua, is a hallmark of Mediterranean landscapes, prized for its resilience and ecological value. This evergreen tree produces glossy, dark green leaves and edible pods that have been a staple in regional agriculture for centuries. Ideal for low-maintenance and sustainable gardens, it thrives in arid conditions and poor soils.

Height: 5-10 m | Spread: 6-12 m
Native to: Mediterranean region
Flowers: Late summer to early autumn
Sun: Full sun

Evergreen
Coastal resilience
Drought tolerant
Edible pods
Low maintenance
Pollinator friendly
Soil stabilizer
Suitable for xeriscaping
Sun and heat loving
Wildlife friendly